F 73 
.37 
• T92 
Copy 1 



AN 



ANSWER TO A PAMPHLET, 



ENTI1 LEO, 



"CONSIDKRATIONS 



ON THE PUBLIC EXPEDIENCY OF A 



&8rid(ic 



FROM ONE PART OF BOSTON TO THE OTHER. v 



4 



QBo0ton: 

PRINTED BY E. LINCOLN, WATER STREET. 

1806. 



73 

7 



AD VER TISEME.VT. 

w NO apology will be considered requisite for a calm 
and respectful examination of" a pamphlet, " by those who 
are informed," that it contains a series of unfounded state- 
ments, and that its author has attempted to mislead the 
public by a suppression of material fact 1 ;. 

Boston, Jan. 29, 1806- 



An ANSWER, &c. 



X N a pamphlet recently issued from the press, the 
favourers of a Bridge from South Street to South Bos- 
ton, have ventured on a new and bold attempt to deceive 
the public, upon the merits of that enterprise. This 
poison they are now industriously circulating, not only 
among the citizens, but the members of the legislature. 
It is the object of the following attempt, to expose its 
malignant nature, and furnish an antidote to its perni- 
cious effects. 

Among the various projects for public improvement, 
or private aggrandizement, for which our country has 
been distinguished, the erection of a bridge across 
the harbour of a great commercial town never was 
contemplated, until the legislature were supplicated for 
that purpose by William Tudor and Gardiner Greene. 
In all grants of bridges over navigable wafc 
heretofore made, the object has been, without a 
single exception, to facilitate the communication 
through the State, upon the public post roads. But 
that the harbour of the greatest commercial town in 
New England should be blocked up, not only for its own 
benefit, but for the general advancement of commerce, 
is an absurdity which nothing but the blindest self in- 
terest could suggest. That such a measure will involve 
in it the sacrifice of immense private property, without 
the possible attainment of any public good ; that it 
would be unprecedented^ in this or any other country ; 
and that the principles of the constitution will warrant 
no such measure, are facts which no artifice can con- 
ceal. It might with equal propriety have been alleged, 
when the harbour of Boston w as heretofore blocked up 



assertions without foundation, and even without varnish. 
Of this nature is the assertion above cited. The author 
knew it to be without foundation ; he knew that the force 
of the former opposition will be augmented by argu- 
ments drawn from the most solemn stipulations of the 
applicants for the bridge, and by the decisions of the 
legislature. The remonstrances of the town of Roxbu- 
ry, and of nearly 600 freeholders of the town of Boston, 
are the proofs of this statement ; both of which are, or 
will be, presented to the legislature. And although it 
may comport with the policy of this writer to declare, 
that such is the affection of the children of Boston for its 
welfare, that they will sacrifice " at any altar dedicated 
to the common good, although it were reared by profane 
hands," yet decency might have taught him to recollect, 
that the end does not always sanctify the means ; &. that he 
is expressly forbidden " to do evil that good may come." 

"It is assumed (in the pamphlet) as a fact, that the pro. 
posed bridge will shorten the distance more than half a 
mile from the centre of the old town to the shores of the 
new district." This is explicitly denied. It is not true in 
any sense of the phrase. It is not true, if by the centre of 
the old town, is meant either its territorial centre, or its 
centre of population. It is so far from being true in any 
reasonable sense, that it is here assumed as a fact, 
capable of complete demonstration, that the public at large 
are now better accommodated by the present bridge from 
South Boston, than they possibly can be by a bridge in 
any other direction from that peninsula. 

If the gentle men of Nook Hill are nettled at this decla- 
ration, the first thing they are desired to recollect is, 
that there are a few persons in the world beside them- 
selves, whom the legislature will consider as proper ob- 
jects of their cure and protection. If the accommoda- 
tion is to be furnished for our country brethren, the ob- 
must be to lessen the distance in their travel, and 
in the transportation of their produce to such parts of the 
town, as they will natn rally be led to, by their connex- 
ion's and business. Probably one in ten of these might 
wish to enter the town by a bridge to South Street ; but 



the other nine would prefer to enter it at the Junction of 
the present bridge ; in which case the whole town, I 
that junction to Market Square, become their custoi 
in the disposal of their produce. The whole I 
should be taken into views and that point fix* J on, at 
and from which a person could go to any and ever} oth- 
ei part oi' the town !>\ a distance, shorter than from any 
other point. This point is now accurately ascertained* 
From the intersection of the turnpike and present bridge 
at South Boston to this central point is 273 lods. From 
said intersection over proposed bridge by the shortest 
rout to this central point is 385 rods, making a dilllr- 
ence of 112 rods in favour of the present bridge. 

The pretended accommodation of the public, is now to 
be considered in another view. By the establishment of 
the proposed bridge, all convenient access to a full third 
part of the sea front of the town, &. also to an equal por- 
tion of its wharves and quays, would be cutoff. It is a fact, 
the evidence of which is within the reach of all persons 
disposed to examine it, that since tho 1st day of March 
last, more than 1800 vessels have passed up to these 
wharves with their cargoes. This right of access, is, 
at present, common to all the citizens of the United 
States, and to the people of all foreign countries with 
whom we have commercial intercourse. Before a 
grant for this bridge be made for the public accommo- 
dation, it should be asked, can the property which will 
be brought into town by that avenue, be equal to I 
property which now is, or hereafter will be, brought to 
the south end, by water? The answer must be tint it 
cannot How then are the public to be acepmm 
Is it not evident that such an obstruction would be 
greatly detrimental $ and does not this solution of the 
question remove all doubt upon the subject of public 
accommodation ? 

It is further alleged, that by stinting Boston within 
her ancient limits, the surplus of our commercial capi- 
tals would find their way to the greater markets of the 
Southern States, ''through want of accommodation al 
home, to the detriment of the whole Commonwcalt] 



The cream of this argument is, that Boston is now 
stinted within her ancient limits to the detriment of the 
whole Commonwealth. But the answer is, that its au- 
thor in the very next sentence has told us, that this sub- 
ject is " now at rest ;" because the town of Boston is 
enlarged by the addition of 600 acres of land. The 
town then is not stinted within her ancient limits ; be- 
cause 600 acres of land have been " united by the right 
hand of fellowship with the opposite shores." Thus 
our surplus capitals will never find their way to the 
southern markets, for want of accommodation. 

But it is no part of the policy of the State, to aid the 
collections of wealth into a particular spot ; it is rather, 
that it should be diffused for the purposes of a general 
participation. Were it all accumulated in one great city, 
we might there have the wealth of Tyre and Sidon, but 
it would engender the vices and corruptions of Sodom 
and Gomorrah. The same policy is more strictly ap- 
plicable to our civil institutions. So long as our happy 
form of government exists, its principles can only be 
disseminated in small assemblies, where they can be 
temperately enforced and understood. Such was the 
policy of our ancestors in the establishment of these in- 
stitutions; and they have, for this reason, become the 
parents of all our intelligence and consequent happiness 
as a people. 

A stranger to the leaders of the Soutii Boston specu- 
lation will scarcely credit his senses, when he reads in 
their pamphlet, that the legislature, by sanctioning the 
annexation of Dorchester Neck have pledged themselves 
" to encourage its settlement, as a part of the capital.'''' 
Here is a direct appeal to the patronage, if not to the 
treasury of the Commonwealth. It is saying to the le- 
gislature, " You have adopted this unfortunate child of 
ours, and you must now comply with all our visionary 
schemes for its support and aggrandizement." In truth 
ythcy ought to be cautious how they gratify them ; for 
there appears to be no limits to their extravagant claims 
& expectations. They seem to calculate that every branch 
of government and every class of people, are to be influ- 



enced by their delirious dreams. The annexation of 

a tract of land from one town to another is the Occur- 
rence of arniosteverj week; but it was' never Defore 
considered as an object in the smallest degree affecting 

the public. A man whose farm lias been thus set off 
mav now adopt the reasoning of the pamphlet, and say 
to the go\ eminent, your sanction to my annexation "can 
MVff Df restricted to the mere extension of the limits 
of the town to which I am annexed ; it was your oi 
dent intention to encourage me in my settlement ; that 
is the only intention that can honourably be imputed to 
you, whatever was the intention of the parties immedi- 
ately concerned in effe ctin g the union, and whatever 
ivere the means by which it was accomplished." B<. I 
the government extend this sort of '* encouragement" to 
the visionaries of Nook Hi//, they ought to do two 
things ; 1st, ascertain to a moral certainty their names 

and associates, that there may be no more deception 

\\ ith respect to a compromise. 2d, Obtain an explicit 
statement of the nature of the patronage and lk encou- 
ragement" they are to afford diem. For they may adopt 
it as a certain rule, that when they give th< rtl an im \\, 
they will demand a mile; that if tin \ grant them a brid 
they will ask for a solid road across the harbour. A 
new edition will then be famished of the " little code of 
principles, which these gentlemen carry in their wallets," 
to prove that such wis the "encouragement" which the 
government had pledged them; and when explained by 

their compiler, it would appear to be of this effect; — 
Boston is now stinted within her ancient limits, because 
600 acres of land have been added to it; — the com- 
merce of the town must be encouraged, by dosing up 
one third of the harbour; the hcalili of the town must 
Dt secured, by stopping the flowing of the tide, and pro- 
viding a reservoir for stagnant waters ; — and the privi- 
leges and. property of our sout^ end brethren improved 
and protected, by prohibiting all access to their estates. 
They might, and doubtless would carry their \icus still 
further, and telj the government, that the want of a solid 
road across the harbour " is the obstacle to the effectu- 
al success of its good intentions, wluch it is competent 
B 



10 



• to itmoYC ; and that their favourite portion of the town 
languishes under this- obstacle, "that notwithstanding- 
one bridge has been built upon the terms which they ex- 
plicitly agreed to," by which the two districts have been 
united in one, they would boldly say to the legislature, 
unless vou give us this road your " system must be mon- 
strous, and unworthy the patronage of any government ; 
vou have left us in a mongrel state? neither town nor 
country." 

It is further stated in the pamphlet, that the price of 
land in the old tawi) is so high as to amount to"a pro- 
hibition of public buiidmgs, shipyards," &c. The first an- 
swer to this is, Go over to the new tow n for these purposes. 
But there is no foundation for the above assertion. 
There are no public buildings now required or contem- 
plated, excepting a court-house and a meeting-house at 
West- Boston. As to the latter the people of that society 
jvant no accommodation : for their materials are now col- 
lecting for a new meeting-house, upon the spot where 
the old one stands. And with respect to a court-house, 
there are so mirny sates for its accommodation that the 
lathers of the country are at a loss which of them to se- 
. Thus vanishes the assertion relative to public build- 
::, .;. In fact dure are so many eligible scitcs for such 
buildings, were they required, that even the female asy- 
lum might have been. accommodated in old Boston, had 
;:-)i ihc hi 'Hvownce of these gentlemen suggested that 
WpP|JK hill was the more appropriate position. 

' Jj'he absurdity of requiringa bridge for the accommoda- 
tion of shipyards at South Boston is apparent. A man, 
conversant with the common concerns of life, must laugh 
at the idea of transporting the materials of a ship to that 
place, otherwise than by water communication, unless 
proceed from the adjacent country. A bridge would 
evidently be useless for this purpose, as well as forevery 
(Other pertaining to shipbuilding, unless it might be con- 
sidered a more safe calculation to bring them to town 
the bridge, than to launch them into the region of 
flats which surround this celebrated promontory. 

The authority attached to the decision of " public bod- 
ies" upon the question of a bridge will now be examined. 



11 



Ft is stated without equivocation, and probably without 
a blush, " that the decision of every public body on the 
question of a stife for the bridge to South Boston, has 
been in favour of South Street ; that these public bodie s 
possess the best means of forming; a judgment, and are 
not influenced by the expectation of private advantage 1 '!!! 
Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, and the report of a com- 
mittee of the General Court, are quoted for the truth of 
these assertions. Were they true, the party interested in 
opposing the bridge, might well tremble at their impend- 
ing danger. 

If they turn out to be not only essentially but ridicu- 
lously false, they will stand as monuments both of the 
folly and depravity of their author. 

In the winter of 1804, the projectors of this bridge 
made their first appeal to die people of Boston. Before 
this " public body," in one of their most numerous as- 
semblies, the parties appeared. On the part of the peti- 
tioners for the bridge, every art and allurement was dis- 
played, Which could result from the combined efforts of 
eloquence and intrigue. On. this side were witnessed 
the cruel and meretricious triumphs of wealth, oratory, 
power, pomp and popularity. On the other, was faint- 
ly heard, the still small voice of reason and just com- 
plaint. The result was differently anticipated by men 
of candour, and the men of the world. It was, howev- 
er, soon ascertained that no correct decision was to be 
expected from this tribunal ; and the disinterested and 
impartial spectators fled from the scene, as from the 
" reign of Chaos and old night." 

Upon the closing of this scene, so honourable to a de- 
liber athe "public body," other means to influence them 
were attempted. An offer was publicly made them, of 
a property in one half the bridge as the price of 
their vote. The subject was thereupon committed to 
£4 gentlemen, selected from the different wards in 
the town. Their report was made, and may be found 
in the appendix to this, though it was suppressed in the 
other pamphlet.* When this report was afterwards 

* Sec* Appendix, No. 1. 



12 



discussed, it appeared that the terms of it wcrt not 
agreeable to the petitioners. A debate ensued ; another 
scene of confusion was exhibited ; &. ultimately an offer in 
cash of 25,000 dollars was made to the town, as a com- 
mutation for half the bridge. By adverting to the re- 
port of the town's committee, and the offers of the 
bridge projectors, the case will appeal- to stand thus. 
The town say, "We will not vote for your bridge unless 
you give us the right to lay out such streets, public 
squares, and market places as we judge necessary, 
without any compensation for the land so appropriated. 
We will have two burial grounds, two school house 
lots, and two lots for houses of public worship, without 
any payment therefor. And in lieu of the offer of one 
half the proposed bridge, there shall be set off by a joint 
committee of the proprietors on the one part, and of the 
town on the other, upon the land to be annexed, in four 
different parts of the same, one tenth of all the land 
thereon, not used or set apart for public purposes, which 
shall be held at the disposal of the town of Boston. " 
To these demands (which the proprietors did not esteem 
perfectly modest) they answered ; " No ; we will not give 
you this price for your vote ;^ but we will pledge our- 
selves to the town to pay them 25,000 dollars in cash, 
or give you half the bridge ; and also the streets and lots 
for public accommodation as before proposed, and refer 
to the legislature the terms and conditions upon which 
the bridge shall be erected." 

The world mav now estimate the value, which ousrht 
to be attached to the decision of the town of Boston, as a 
"public body," uninfluenced by the expectation of pri- 
vate advantage. The right to animadvert upon the con- 
duct of a public body, cannot be restricted, especially to 
those who are attempted to be made its victims. Facts 
must be adhered to ; one of which is, that the price of a 
vote of the town upon the question of a bridge, has be- 
come a matter of record. The value of the property actu- 
ally demanded for it is more than $ 100,000. The vak 
ue of what was actually offered, somewhat less. But it is 
not susceptible of denial, that its votes and decisions 



upon this question have been the subject of bargrin and 
sale ; and that if an individual "juror, nidge or chan- 
cellor" should be influenced by similar motives, it 
would stamp his character with indelible infamy. 

Thus it appears, that the town, as a "public body," 
have been influenced ;n their decisions, " by the c\j 
tation of private advantage," and have even calcu> 
lated upon it as the mean and source of wealth and 
pleasure. 

But to relinquish this view of their proceedings, 
there is another in which it is most important to con- 
sider them. The question between the parties in this 
Controversy, is in its nature a question of property and 
right. There is no public body existing, competent to 
the decision of this question, which is not either judicial 
or legislative. To these alone have the opposers of the 
bridge been ardently desirous of submitting. Why 
then have the - leaders of the South Street bridge project 
feared a direct and manly appeal to the legitimate tribu- 
nals of public justice ? Why do such men demean them, 
selves by playing the demagogue? Why do they enlist 
the populace as the instruments of their pleasure, and then 
quote dicir decisions, as the rule of right, and the stand- 
ard of other mens' judgments? Independent of the 
shameless nature of the experiment, these gentlemen may 
hereafter find it a dangerous one. No other association 
in Boston would have dared to hazard, or stooped to em- 
ploy it. The language is plainly this ; " We have but 
little confidence in the merits or success of our enterprize ; 
we will therefore have an assembly of the people ; We 
will first harangue them, then dazzle them with painted 
and delusive prospects of wealth and pleasure ; if these 
do not succeed, we will purchase their influence, and pay 
them in land, money or bridges, as may best comport 
with their vanity or avarice. 

Applications for two other bridges from Boston arc 
now pending; either of which will furnish not only 
a new avenue to the town, but open a communication with 
our northern and western interior, doubly important and 



H 



extensive to that of South Street. * Why is there no 
appeal to a Boston town- meeting in these cases? Evi- 
dently for two reasons ; 1st, because the gentlemen of 
Nook Hill are either opposed to, or have no interest in 
them ; and 2d, because the petitioners for these bridges 
are no demagogues. Engage the Nook Hill gentlemen 
in these projects ; give them reasonable hopes of another 
harvest, and the people of Boston will again be set in mo- 
tion ; and another scene of riot and chaos exhibited : and 
the Syren's tongue, and the serpent's charm again em- 
ployed to please and deceive them. 

It is true that the town of Dorchester has decided in 
favour of South Street bridge ; it is also true, that an 
attempt was made to purchase its opinions by the offer of 
■money. What other modes of corruption were practis- 
ed, we know not ; but w r e do know, that they were all 
rejected with disdain. These facts ought to be made 
public ; because at the same time that they justify the 
conduct of Dorchester, as fair and honourable, they dis- 
close the scandalous means by which her seduction has 
been attempted. In short, such is the furor with which 
some of the friends of the bridge seem to ^ have been 
seized, that they arc rendered insensible to the vile de- 
baucheries, which they are the means of propagating. 

The town of Roxbury uniformly has been, and still 
is opposed to the bridge. It has recently voted against 
it, and elected its agents to enforce their opposition be- 
fore the legislature. The statement, therefore, respect* 
ing this " public body" is groundless. 

The last and greatest falsehood respecting the uniform 
decision of " public bodies" will now be stated. Mo. 
ses Everett and others presented their petition for this 
bridge at the May session of the General Court, A. D. 
1804. Notice was thereupon ordered ; remonstrances 
from the people of the south end and the Front Steeet 
Corporation were regularly made ; the subject was com - 

* No opinion, as to the necessity or utility of these bridges, is 
intended here to be given. The object of introducing them will 
be readily seen ; viz. to show the difference of the conduct of 
their promoters and the promoters of the South Street Bridge 
project. 



knitted to a most respectable committee of both HouM 
the parties heard, and the prayer ol the petition 14*20* 
imoush rejected by that committee. Their report was 
made at the close of the session and accepted by the 
Senate, and Mas referred in the House to the m 

which was the last winter session* It was then tak- n 

up, debated, and the Hon. Mouse concurred with the 
Senate, and thus the report was accepted by both 
branches of the legislature. No longer ago than the 
last session, the very petition which is now before the 
legislature, was presented : and such was the disgust 
and indignation at the repeated and pcr.uuting attempts 
to w ear out its patience, that even the ceremony of a com- 
mitment vias refused. It was afterwards resuscitated, at 
tne request of the member from Dorchester, upon the 
ground of his absence at the time of the diseussion. 
From the decisions of this il public bod} " there was no 
appeal; "they possessed the best means of forming 4 
judgment, and they were not inlluenced in their cl< vi- 
sion by the expectation of private advantage." The, 
statement in the pamphlet thus turns out to be- 
so false as to defy all comment. It will therefore on- 
ly be followed by an assertion undeniably true, that t V; 
cry public body oj '\v Inch Vie have heard (Boston and Dor- 
chester excepted) have decided against a bridge at South- 
Street, si/ice the incorporation of the present bridge from 
South Boston and front Street. 

The material fads and observations which were made 
the basis office pompous positions in the pamphlet, arc 
now replied to. Unsupported by fact or argument, the) 
vanish " like the morning cloud," and pass away. 
The town and Commonwealth must doubtless perish 
with them ; lor according to the logic, of the pamphlet, 
t hi establishment of a bridge from South Street is the 
Only mode b_. which we can " preserve our healQi, or 
keep our riches within the State." 

In considering the objections to the bridge, thcwritci 
of the pamphlet alleges, that the citizens of the south 
quarter of the town eonstittite a great " clan or family, 
coming mostly from the country > of the same babitd 



16 



and opinions, and liable to common, and consequently 
to erroneous impulses ;" the meaning of which is evi- 
dently this ; a clan of countrymen form similar habits 
and opinions, and are therefore liable to common and 
erroneous impulses. Perhaps a more unfortunate senti- 
ment was never engendered by the struggles of avarice 
and ambition. The author, it may be readily seen, is a 
town born child ; but no liberal man of any party or in- 
terest, will thank him for this contemptible sneer upon 
a numerous and respectable class of citizens. The in- 
sincere compliment conferred upon them in a preceding 
sentence, is no apology for this language. It is, howev- 
er, a subject of rejoicing to this " clan," that their cause 
is ultimately to be decided by men, u coming mostly 
from the country ;" who can have no interest but to pro- 
mote the public good, and who will despise the insinua- 
tion that a man is liable to erroneous impulses, because 
he comes from the country ; that he is chargeable with 
inordinate attachments to his interest, and a deficiency 
in public spirit, because he comes from the country ; 
and that he is for that reason bound to lay the fruits of 
an industrious life at the feet of speculating pride, or 
hereditary wealth. 

It is further affirmed in the pamphlet, "that the only 
real, interested opposition, is the Front Street corpora- 
tion, or less than 30 individuals." In its subsequent 
pages, it is admitted, that the Front Street wharves 
must forever remain the principal mart for wood and 
lumber;" and that if the charges upon these articles 
should be enhanced by the impediment of a bridge, they 
must be paid by the customer, " as mere duties." 

From this abstract of the statement, the following po- 
sitions necessarily result. 1st, The only interested op- 
position is from the Front Street corporation ; 2d, the 
price of lumber and wood may be enhanced by a bridge ; 
and 3d, the additional expense upon these articles, oc- 
casioned by a bridge, must be paid by the consumer. 
It is melancholy to contemplate the absurdities into 
which men of talents frequently plunge themselves. If 
the Front Street wharves must continue to be the prin- 



17 



cipal marl (br lumber and wood, and the price of these 

articles will be enhanced by a bridg>, it undeniably ibl- 
Iqws, tli.it every man in Boston, rich or poor, must be 
interested in opposing the bridge, in die exact propor- 
tion its the bridge increases the price of these articles* 

Let us look lor a moment at the state of things which 
these,' facts present A lew powerful individuals, roll- 
ing in wealth and swimming in luxury, demand the 
privilege of obstructing the passage to that quarter of 

the town "which must forever remain the principal 

mart for wood and lumber." The commerce of the 
town is materially injured by this obstruction ; but 
the private fortunes of these individuals are thereby aug- 
mented to an immeasurable height ; the article of wood 
is necessary for the Upholding of life ; and without lum- 
ber, many of the inhabitants of the town can only be 
covered by the canopy of heaven ; the price of these ar- 
ticles of necessary consumption is to be greatly en- 
hanced, but the evil must be submitted to, by the poor 
as well as the rich ; and the enhanced price of these ar- 
ticles paid by way of duties, for the gratification and ag- 
grandizement of these powerful individuals ! The Nook 
Hill gentlemen have the citizens of Boston under excel- 
lent discipline, if they can bring them to this submission ; 
to obstruct the navigation, and impose a duty on the 
necessaries of life. But it may be some satisfaction to 
the poor inhabitants to learn, that the "duty upon the 
article of wood will never exceed 50 cents, nor be less 
than 30 cents per cord.*' 

Two other assertions are made with unblushing con- 
fidence ; that " bridges in DO instance have been greatly 
detrimental to estates situated above mem," and that 
this bridge "would aid instead of impeding the naviga- 
tion." A single fact shall suffice for the first. The 
wharves above Charies River bridge in Charleston n, 
which before the erection of that bridge were the most 
valuable of any in that town, are now partly covered 
with stables and partly with grass With re pert to the 
latter assertion, an appeal is also made to facts. If a 
bridge be extended from South Street, its direction 
C 



18 



must be oblique to the course of the channel, and run a 
long distance in it. At the season of the year wfien 
vessels most frequently visit the south harbour, the 
southerly and westerly winds prevail. A loaded vessel ^ 
therefore, must either beat through the bridge, against 
the wind, or abandon all attempts to reach the wharves 
above. The consequence is self evident. But with- 
out recurring to these facts, the proceedings of Bos- 
ton and of the legislature have recognised these impedi- 
ments. 

We pass now to an examination of the most impor- 
tant, if not the only branch of the subject which deserves- 
particular consideration. 

On the 18th of February, 1804, a Compromise %vas" 
effected between all parties co?icemed, as well those in fa~ 
"jour as those opposed to the proposed bridge ;\ and by this" 
compromise the mtercsts of the pub fie were not compro- 
mitted ; had they been, it would not have been sanctioned 
by the legislature. No apology will now be offered, 
either for telling the whole truth y or calling things by 
their proper names. 

This compromise was originally sought by the gen- 
tlemen of Nook Hill. It was readily listened to by the 
opponents of the bridge, who asked and wished for 
nothing but the peaceable enjoyment of their property, 
find to satisfy all claims of the public sentiment. Thev 
saw, in this compromise, not only the prospect of such 
enjoyment and satisfaction, but the termination of the 
controversy. How cruelly they have been deceived and 
disappointed will appear, by shewing, 

1st, That the petitioners for the bridge, and the pe 
titioners for the annexation of Dorchester Neck, were 
all of them the real associates- of Messrs. Mason and 
Otis, and therefore bound by their compromise. 

2d, That the stipulations of that compromise have 
been most perfidiously violated. It will then be shewn, 

3d, That in pursuance of this compromise the 
faith of the legislature has been pledged, that no charter 
for another bridge shall now be granted. 

t See Appendix, No. 2 and i. 



19 



It should be fust remark < <1, that notwithstanding; 
Messrs. Mason and Otis were the prominent leaders oi 
the bridge party in the legislature, in the tewn-meetii 
and upon the exchange, their names do not ippear upon 
a single document, public or private, except the instru 
nu-tit which led to the compromise. After tketr buo. 
ceediog conduct, is it an uncharitable presumption that 
they were thus keptin reserve forthe purposes of intrigue? 
Such a presumption is strengthened by a remarkable < ir- 
cumstance. When Mr. Brown and the other members of 

the south end committee nut these gentlemen on the sub- 
ject of a compromise t the south end committee hud their 
Own credentials in their hands. It is an idle pretence, tin. rc- 
fore, that Messrs. Mason and Otis • ' did not know the con- 
tracting parties upon the other side." They did explic- 
itly declare themselves satisfied with the powers and cre- 
dentials of tin- committee. They were then requested 
to exhibit their credentials ; but they answered they had 
no written credentials from their associates, but would 
obtain them if required ; but they pledged their sacred 

honours they were fully authorised by Unit- associates. A 

suggestion was made that the conference should cease. 
until those gentlemen obtained written credentials. — 
They said, tlxjy did not even wish possession of tin 
commitux's credentials, and observed, that notwithstand- 
ing their interests and the interests of the committee bad 
greatly militated, they hoped the committee had not seen 
any thing in them during the controversy, which would 
justify it in withdrawing all confidence in their honour. 

This studied concealment oftheirpowers and parte, and 
their endeavours to inspire the committee with a con- 
fidence in their honour, would have excited no suspic- 
ion, had not their subsi quent conduct, and the exposition 
of it in the pamphlet, stamped their w hole proceedings with 
the marks of artifice and intrigue. Fortunateh , it is not 
necessarv to resort to an equitable or honourable const \ 
turn of their agreement, to prove the point in question. 
For it shall appear from the words of the agreement itself. 

This contract* 1 was executed between Jonathan Ma 
sou and H. G. Otis, on behalf of themselves and assocji 

• See App. No. 2. 



20 



ates, of the first part ; and William Brown and the 6th- 
er gentlemen of the committee, on the second part. In 
the preamble of this argreement, it is recited, "that the 
parties of the first part contemplate and intend to attempt 
to procure from the legislature of Massachusetts, an act 
of incorporation, authorizing them to erect a bridge from 
the town of Boston's landing, so called, in Orange Street, 
in said Boston, or from some place southerly thereof, to 
Dorchester point ; and also to procure, if practicable, an 
annexation of said point to the town of Boston." Now 
it is certain that the first party to this contract are those 
who contemplated and intended to procure an act of incor- 
poration to erect the bridge ; and also those, to ho intended 
to procure the annexation of the point to the town of Bos- 
ton ; it is so expressly recited in the contract. Who 
then are the persons thus described? It will appear, 
that the persons who were to erect the bridge were 
Messrs. Mason, Tudor, Otis and Greene ; and that 
those, who were to procure the annexation, were the 
same gentlemen, together with all the petitioners from 
South Boston, who subscribed the petitions for the an- 
nexation. The evidence of this statement will be now 
adverted to. 

On the 27th of December, 1803, William Tudor, 
Gardiner Greene, Moses Everett, and seventeen oth- 
ers, petitioned the Selectmen of Boston for its consent to 
the annexation of Dorchester Neck. This petition 
contained these words ; " we shall and do cheerfully 
consent to the annexation of all our lands, lying within 
the peninsula aforesaid, upon the single condition that the 
inhabitants will procure a bridge to be erected between 
Boston and Dorchester Neck." The identical subscrib- 
ers to that petition, together with seven others, preferred 
their petition, at the then next session of the General 
Court, in which last petition they pray for the annexa- 
tion to be granted ; however, upon condition that a bridge 
should be granted, connect'mg the peninsula with the town. 
The place for the bridge to land on the Boston side is not 
pointed out in either petition. Three of the subscribers to 
the petition, now pending before the legislature, viz. 



21 



Moses Everett, Mai\ C lap and Jonathan Bird, were al- 
so subscribers to the two former petitions for the an- 
nexation; and in that capacity, they, with all the other 
petitioners therefor, must have been the associates " of 

Messrs. Mason and Otis.'' Thus the associates arc 
dragged from behind the curtain. All connexion with 
them is boldly disclaimed ; and every artifice practised 
to conceal them. But the contract and compromise are 
now submitted to public examination, and the other doc- 
uments are among the public records. 

Upon a comparison of these facts and documents, an 
impartial examiner will see with an indignant smile, a 
question gravely asked in the pamphlet, " who were the 
parties to this agreement ?" Messrs. Mason and Otis 
knew perfectly well, that their associates went described in 
the preamble of this agreement, and that this description 
comprehended themselves, the petitioners for South 
Street bridge, and all the petitioners for the annexation. 
They therefore must have contemplated one of two 
things ; either to bind these petitioners, or conceal their 
intention of not binding them ; if the former, it is the 
point contended for ; if the latter, they arc completely 
detected, and have forfeited all claims to candour and 
confidence. 

The truth of the statement has been argued 
from the face of the instrument, compared with oth- 
er documents to which it refers, and which of coins-- 
constitute a part of it. For the purpose lure in- 
tended, no other examination is necessary. But it is 
amusing to find the writer of the pamphlet dreading and 
renouncing all verbal explanation on the part of his op- 
ponents, and yet repeatedly resorting to it hiuisclf. Un- 
fortunately his verbal explanation amounts to a contra- 
diction ; for lie verbally alleges that the only associates of 
Messrs. Mason and Otis w ere Messrs. Tudor and Greene, 
and gives as a reason, that it had been reptatedhf so an- 
nounced ; but the instrument discloses, that these asso- 
ciates were the petitioners for the bridge, and the peti- 
tioners for the annexation ; and so long as that instru- 
ment, and the public records remain, it will be useless 
to attempt a contrary Construction. 



22 



2. The facts to prove the truth of the 2d position, viz. 
that the stipulations of the compromise have been violated, 
are now to be stated. While the first petition for South 
Street bridge was pending, and before the report of the 
committee upon that petition had been acted upon, Ed- 
ward Tuckerman and others preferred their petition, 
praying leave to erect a bridge where the South Boston 
bridge is now built, and also to make a new street, to 
extend from the bridge to Essex Street. These incor- 
porations were requested upon a presumption expressed 
in the petition, and afterwards recognized by the legis- 
lature, that no liberty would be granted for the erection of 
any other bridge from Boston to Dorchester peninsula, to 
the northward of the place above described. Upon this peti- 
tion the usual notice was ordered, and the petition com- 
mitted to a joint committee. 

It was at this moment, when the South Street peti- 
tioners saw the inevitable fate of their project, that the 
compromise was by them sought for and effected. The 
evidence of this compromise is contained in the report 
of the joint committee, which is here subjoined. & The 
contract before examined is called, in the pamphlet, the 
" instrument of compromise." But it is not so ; it is 
the instrument which led to the compromise. The re- 
port of the committee last referred to, recites and sanc- 
tions the compromise, and is the only written evidence 
of its nature and existence. To the terms of this com- 
promise, must Messrs. Mason and Otis, and their asso- 
ciates, be compelled to submit. 

The most prominent feature in this report is the 2d 
article, which states, that " no leave be given to build a 
bridge from Bos toil to Dorchester, to the northward of the 
town's landing. v The compromise of the parties is 
made the basis of this report ; and thus we have the sol- 
emn stipulation of Messrs. Mason and Otis, and all the 
petitioners for the annexation, (as has been before shown) 
that no other bridge shall by them be sought for. The 
above report was accepted by consent of all parties ; 
two incorporations, one for the bridge, and the other for 

§ See Appendix, No. 3. 






building Front Street, were passed in pur v. { it , 

and until after the final adjournment of the General 
Court of that year, every thing was calm, harmonious' 

and happy. 

This harmony Was first disturbed by tin inhabitants 
of South Boston, who, before the meeting of the new 
General Court of 1804, published a " formal prot 
against the doings of their own agents, Messrs. Oti-, 
and Mason, and (what was tantamount thereto) against 
the doings of the legislature consequent thereupon. This 
expedient was followed by another more serious. 
but equally unjustifiable ; for as soon as the new 
legislature convened, they pieferred their petition for 
an arch bridge, (as it has been termed) from South 
Street. This project was probably suggested to them 
by their arch enemy, for surely nothing human or di- 
vine could have dc\iscd a scheme so pregnant with fol- 
ly. It has been stated in a former page, that this peti- 
tion met the fate it deserved. But during its pendency 
at the last winter session, another bridge town-meeting 
was demanded of the selectmen of Boston. These gen- 
tlemen were averse to a renewal of the former scenes of 
recrimination and animosity. But they were told by the 
agents of the bridge projectors, that if they did not warn 
a meeting of the inhabitants, a justice of the peace would 
be applied to for that purpose. They were finally pre- 
vailed upon. A meeting was held, and the bowels of 
Faneuil hall groaned, and were disgorged. A houv 
public worship again became the theatre for the per- 
formance of another grand farce-. Mr. Otis spoke for 
himself, and " by his neighbours and his lawyers ;" 
and a vote was finally carried, nolens i-ole/is, by which 
the town in effect said, they would have a bridge in spite 
of the legislature. In addition to all this, it is known 
to all Boston, that ever since the compromise, Messrs. 
Masoa, Tudor, Otis and Greene have used their ut- 
most endeavours to obtain another bridge, though 
these endeavours may have been (until lately) ur 
through the instrumentality of lawyers, runners, and 
secret agents. 



24 



There is evidence enough in these facts to condemn 
the whole together. Principals and associates must re- 
treat before it, and hide their heads* In every instance, 
where an infraction of the compromise has been at- 
tempted or effected, the unremitting exertions of an 
agent, publicly known to be the instrument and tool of 
the bridge party, have been every where seen and re- 
cognized. In the town- meeting of Jan. 1805, the citi- 
zens were harangued by professional gentlemen, who 
were known from the beginning to have been employed 
as counsel. Indeed the mask is now thrown off, and 
principals and associates have all become the open ad- 
vocates of another bridge, both in and out of the le- 
gislature. 

How then stands the account, between these gentle- 
men and their consciences ? Simply thus ; they have 
entered into a solemn stipulation in the face of the legis- 
lature, that no bridge from South Street shall be granted 
at their request ; but from the moment of that stipula- 
tion to the present time, they have permitted, excited, 
and promoted every measure in their power to obtain it. 
For the better information of these gentlemen's con- 
sciences in future, a passage from a great moral philo- 
sopher* is inserted. 

"All promises are to be performed in that sense in 
iv hie h the promissor apprehended, and knew at the time, 
that the promissee received it, 

" The obligation of promises depends also upon the ex- 
pectations, which ivc knowingly and voluntarily excite. 
Consequently any action or conduct towards another, which 
we are sensible excites expectations in that other, is as 
much a promise, and creates as strict an obligation as the 
most express assurances. ' ' 

We now proceed to the third point. 

From the documents before referred to, it is pre- 
sumed enough has been shewn to jusify the opinion, 
that the faith of the legislature has been and still is 
pledged to the Front Street Corporation, and the people 
«f the south end, that no charter for another bridge 

* Paley, pages 99 and 100. 



25 



shall now be granted. The petitions for that incorpo- 
ration, and for the building of the present bridge, 
were proffered and granted up»n that condition. In the 
report of the committee upon that petition (which is 
one of the clearest and best drawn documents upon 
the files of the legislature) that condition is re 
nized and sanctioned ; and the government by ac- 
cepting that report, and carrying it into effect by two 
legislative acts, has thereby done every thing in its 
power to quiet and satisfy all parties. It would have 
been useless to have inserted this restriction and con- 
dition in those acts ; for although the legislature ot 
this year can bind itself, it cannot bind its successor 
of the next. The legislative power expires annually 
on the day preceding the last Wednesday in May ; 
and, speaking constitutionally, is revived the next 
day in a new body, though consisting of many of the 
old members. Being thus annually organized, it 
has the power to rescind the old, and to enact new 
laws. But their faithfulness is the same. No correct 
legislature can be above those moral obligations, 
which arc over all, and binding upon all, and tor the 
conscientious discharge of which, its members arc 
amenable to the Supreme Government of the universe. In 
the application of these principles to the case of 
the parties contending for and against another 
Bridge, every impartial member of the General Court 
will examine for himself into those agreements and 
stipulations of the parties, which have been made 
the basis of and incorporated with the acts and proceedings 
of former legislatures. He will then perceive how im- 
possible it is, that the opposers of another bridge can 
be deceived by their confidence in the faith and j 
tice of the government. The following observatii 
will discover the nature and extent ot the injui 
which will be suffered by the Front Street Corp* 
tion and other inhabitants of the south end, should 
it appear that this confidence h.i> been ehhi r miscon- 
ceived or misplaced. 

I) 



26 



A question is made whether " Front Street Corpo- 
ration are not gainers by the compromise ?" It is 
roundly asserted in the pamphlet, that they are. But 
it is a fact capable of the clearest demonstration, that that 
Corporation, even ?iow, are great losers by the compromise ', 
and in the event of another bridge, not only they, 
but many others, will suffer much greater losses than 
iiave been already incurred. A part of the loss, how- 
ever, which has been sustained, was foreseen and cal- 
culated, at the time the compromise was made. To- 
tal destruction to the business and prosperity of the 
south end was threatened. The inhabitants pre- 
ferred a partial loss to entire destruction. The sequel 
will show, that this loss has been suffered to promote 
the convenience of the public, the interests of the 
South Boston Association, and the other owners of 
the peninsula, and from motives of self preservation 
actuating those, the whole labour of whose lives was 
attempted to be grasped by the Vandal hand of specu- 
lation, under the imposing pretence of promoting 
the public good. 

This will be further elucidated, and placed beyond 
the possibility of denial. An open and avowed deni- 
al is solicited. The proofs on our part are ready, and 
we are willing to rest the whole issue on the point, 
(hat the Front Street Corporation, and other inhabitants of 
the south end, have been, are, and 'will be losers, and that 
the South Boston Association, and the inhabitants of the 
peninsula have been, are, and will be gainers by the com- 
promise. 

The south end inhabitants petitioned to be incor- 
porated with permission to build Front Street and 
the present bridge. Their motives for so doing, as 
expressed in their petition (a copy of which is No. 4, 
in the Appendix) were to make the south harbour of 
Boston more commodious for navigation and com- 
merce, and to preserve it from the destruction threat- 
ened by a bridge from South Street. The idea of 
profiting by the street was not entertained. The on< 



2Y 



ly part of the expense to which they thus submit 
themselves, and for which they expected tobereim- 

bursed, w.is the cost of the bridg \ ; they prayed for 
a grant of such a toll on the bridge, as would reim- 
burse them for building it. But it wis mad^ a 
qua run by Otis and M tson, that the bridge should be 
transferred to them and tlu-ir associates , that is their 
object was solely to benefit the Dorchester land, the 
bridge must be placed in their hands, that they might 
lessen the toll at their pleasure, or make it free, to 
promote the settlement of Nook Hill. The whole cost 
of the street was given by the south end inhabitants, as 
the price of their redemption from the greater c^ils and 
losses with which they icere threatened by a bridge from 
South Street. To give complete and full evidence of 
this, if more can be required, a recurrence to the 
bond, which has been often ostentatiously and falsely 
published, as being the only paper in existence relat- 
ing to, or having any connexion with the compro- 
mise, is again necessary. If building the street 
promised such immense profit, as the writer of the 
pamphlet pretends, and which he, by tortured infer- 
ences from mistated facts endeavours to show, the 
Front Street Corporation have realised, why were 
they subjected to the penalty of 50,000 dollars to 
build it ? Were their " senses so bewildered" as to 
require to be put under bonds to do that, by the per- 
formance of which, it is pretended, they will realize 
more than 250,000 dollars ? But it may be asked in 
return, why were Mason and Otis, and their a 
ciates, subjected to the same penalty unless they built 
the bridge ? // was to compel them to the pcrformani 
their stipulations ; to \m to build it 

Street might thereby be accommodjted, but that all t 
fences of any nea ' 

futile ', and the in':. / /> 

their great and only \ the prevention of an: 

bridge, and the preservation of their commcrci. 
ileges. In accomplishing these purposes, the Front 



28 



Street Corporation have already been assessed for the 
street dols. 70,912-50 cents, and another assessment 
of one dollar per foot, amounting to S3059 will be 
necessary, making dol. 73,962-50. They have also 
made other sacrifices to nearly dol. 46,000 (See Appen- 
dix, No. 5.) Such have been the cost and sacrifice 
these people have sustained to furnish a spacious and 
elegant avenue to South Boston, and destroy all 
claims and pretences for another bridge. For whose 
benefit has this sacrifice of Si 20,000 been made? 
Not for the Front Street Corporation, for it is dem- 
onstrated in the Appendix to be so much lost by 
them. The only artifice left to ingenuity basely em- 
ployed is, to pretend, that the Corporation have pro- 
fited by what they have redeemed and saved, and 
have no right to count the requisition and redemp- 
tion money as loss. But this position would be more 
than monstrous. If a man, having ten dollars, were 
threatened to be robbed, and a compromise should 
be made, by which the knight of the road should 
consent to take five, who, but the writer of the pam- 
phlet, would pretend, that five dollars were not lost 
by the compromise ? 

Having thus shewn the Front Street Corporation 
have been and are losers under the compromise, the 
question remains, whether they will not be losers in 
the event of another bridge ? It is conceded in the 
pamphlet, that another bridge would destroy their 
commercial privileges. In that event, therefore, not 
only the price of their redemption, but the very objects 
intended to be redeemed, will be destroyed and lost. Then 
indeed will they be not only in a state of " exile," 
but poverty. 

That Mason, Otis, Tudor and Greene, and their 
associates, have been, are and will be gainers by the 
compromise in the event of another bridge shall now 
be concisely and clearly exhibited. 

The whole amount vested in the present bridge, 
by them and others interested in their speculation, is 



29 



not 856,000 (as pretended in the pamphlet) but 
836,000, and no more, (See Appendix No. 6.) What- 
ever sums they may have expended on turnpikes and 
other objects have no relevancy to the question. 
They might, With the same propriety, bring their 
family expenses into the calculation. It is contended 
ID the pamphlet, that all their interest in the present 
bridge will be lost in the event of another, and may' 
be considered as a donation to Front Street. If the 
present bridge prove a total loss to its owners, it must 
arise from there being no passing over it. It being a 
toll bridge, passing would produce income. If there 
should be no passing over it, of what advantage can 
it pojoibly be as an avenue to Front Street ? How lib- 
eral would be the " donation"! ! A gift charitable and 
generous indeed, and if not worthy to be registered 
in heaven, deserves a conspicuous column in all the 
Boston newspapers. But for argument's sake it is 
supposed the 36,000 dls. will be lost. How stands the 
account of profit and loss with them? The whole penin- 
sula without a bridge is fit only for agricultural pur- 
poses, and may, in that view, be considered worth 
from 150 to 200 dls. per acre. It is known that land 
owned by the South Boston Association, was purchas- 
ed before the present bridge was built, from less than 
100 to 500 dls. per acre, and that since the erection of 
that bridge and Front Street, land has been sold there 
at the rate of 25 cts. per square foot or 1 i,coo dollars 
per acre. 

The 1 50 acres said in the pamphlet to be owned by 
Mason, Otis, Tudor and Greene, at that rate arc 
worth one million six hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 
Allow one half this sum to be deducted for sea walls, 
turnpikes, presents, and other extraordinary expenses in- 
cident to the establishment ; there are left 8 50,000 dollars. 
Allow the original co>t of the 1 50 acres to have been 
even 1 30,OOoaoIs. How much have the poor sufferers 
made by expending 36,-0 dls. in the present bridge ? 
The small sum ot ttven hundred and fifty thousand dol- 
lars, only. 



Thus have they been and thus are they gamers by the 
compromise ; and in the event of another bridge, they 
will still be gainers; for who will pretend that their 
land, even in the event of another bridge, will not be 
benefited much more than 36,000 dols. by being con- 
nected, as it now is, to a populous part of the old town 
by a bridge short of 1600 feet in length, especially 
when it is considered, that a bridge to South Street 
would be longer by more than a thousand feet. 

Thus the fact of loss to Front Street Corporation 
and other inhabitants of the south end, and of gain to 
the South Boston Association arid other inhabitants 
and owners of the peninsula, in any event, is establish- 
ed beyond] the possibility of doubt. It rests on a 
basis which violence cannot shake nor artifice under- 
mine. It defies the assaults of the open and manly, 
and despises the low attempts of the cowardly, intrigu- 
ing and disguised. 

In the concluding paragraph of the pamphlet, its 
writer discloses that the measures of his party are now 
to be changed. We shall now no longer dread the 
old experiments of intrigue and deception. There is 
an open declaration of war ; and it is the first in- 
stance of frankness in his party which it has conde- 
scended to exhibit ; but it is also a specimen of inso- 
lence which will meet its merited chastisement. The 
threat is evidently directed both at the town and the 
legislature ! It marks out the ground, and points out 
the weapons of the combat. Our answer to the chal- 
lenge is this ; if another bridge is an object, which it 
is "impossible to relinquish" the opposition to it is an 
objeet which will never be relinquished. If the har- 
mony of the town is to be interrupted while the pur- 
suit of that object is continued, every exertion will 
be made to restore that harmony by convincing the 
town of the folly of being made the tool of design- 
ing and deceitful men. If the dignity of the legislature 
should be impiously assailed, the author of so nefari- 
ous an attempt, will be pointed out by the finger of 



31 



scorn ; and if " eternal jealousies and strife" arc to be 
the consequences of deferring the grant, their promoters 
will be as likely to perish in thetn, as those for whose de- 
struction they are excited. 

We have thus torn the veil and exposed some few 
of the most gross misrepresentations of the pamphlet, 
in all their nakedness. We should have turned away- 
disgusted with the sight, did not our duty to the pub- 
lic demand of us to exhibit their deformity. A good 
cause requires not the aid of artifice or misrepresent- 
ation, and a bad cause, with their aid, and the assist- 
ance of intelligent heads, actuated by corrupt and de- 
praved hearts, cannot and will not succeed with hon- 
est men. 



APPENDI X. 

No, ]. 

Refiort of the Toisn's Committee, 

THE Committee chosen by the several "wards, agreeable to a 
tote of the town of the 17th inst. to consider the conditions oh 
which Dorchester Neck shall be annexed to Boston, beg leavf. 

TO REPORT 

That the lands on Dorchester Neck be annexed to, and incor- 
porated with the town of Boston on the following conditions ;— 

1st, That a good and suitable Bridge be built from South 
Street, of 42 feet wide, with good accommodations for foot pas- 
sengers, who shall pass toll free ; and having two draws, one in 
the channel of 32 feet wide, and one on the flats, on the norther- 
ly side, of 28 feet wide, with a wharf of not less than 25 feet in 
width to each draw, on each side the bridge, extending below the 
bridge 200 feet, and above it 100 feet, and having a house on the 
wharf at the channel draw, for persons to be at, at all hours of the 
day and night, to hoist the draws, for vessels to pass whenever 
required, and the whole bridge to be well lighted. 

2d, The Proprietors of the Bridge shall pay to the owners or 
masters of all vessels above 20 tons, passing up above the bridge 
to discharge their cargoes, at and after the rate of Jive cents per 
ton, register measurement, but nothing returning below the 
bridge. 

3d, That there be inserted in the act of incorporation a clause, 
whereby it be provided, that if the inhabitants of the town, on the 
southern side of the bridge, apply to the legislature at any future 
period to be set oft", as a separate town, or annexed to any other, 
without the consent of the inhabitants of the northern side, that 
then and as soon as they do, the charter of the bridge shall cease 
to the then holders, and shall enure to the sole advantage of the 
old town of Boston. 

4th, The Proprietors of the land to be annexed, shall consent 
that the Selectmen of the town of Boston shall immediately lay 
out such streets, public squares and market places, as they shall 
judge necessary for the public accommodation, without any com- 
pensation for tlie land so appropriated. 

5th, There shall be two burial grounds, two school house lots, 
and two lots for houses of public worship, also to be laid out with- 
out any payment therefor. 



6th, In lieu of the offer of one half of the proposed !)ridgc, 
there shall be set off by a joint committee of the proprietoi 
the one part, and the town of Boston on the oth r pan, upon the 
land tu lie annexed io tour different parts of the sam< . 

all the land thereon, (that is DOt u->cd Of set apart for public pur- 
poses) which shall be held at the disposal of the town oi Boston. 

All which is submitted. 
JOSEPH RUSSELL, /ur Order. 



No. 2. 

Bond executed between Messrs. Mason, Otis and their associates, mil 
South Eod Committee, as a measure preparatory to the compromise, which 
afterwards was ratified before Committee of both Branches of tti I 

tature. 

Articles of agreement made and concluded this \8t/i day of Febru- 
ary, A. I). 1804, between Jonathan Ma-son and Hani ^r. Cray 
Otis, of Boston, Esquires, in behalf of them-sttves and associates, 
of the first /'art, and William Brotvn, Arnold Welles, J'..-. y-Jres, 
Josiah Kna/ifi and Benjamin Coddard, ATcrchants, all of Boston, 
in behalf of themselves and associates, of the second /iart. 

WHEREAS the said parties of the first part contemplate, 
and intend to attempt to procure from the Legislature of M 

sachusettS) an act of incorporation) authorising them to erect a 

bridge, from the town of Boston's landing, so called, in Orange- 
Street, in said Boston, or from some place xout/urly thereof, to 
Dorchester Point ; and also to procure, if practicable, the annex- 
ation of said fioint to t/u And whereas the said 
parties of the second part, with then- associates, contemplate, and 
intend to form and till up ■ new street) runniii id bridge 
to Uainsloid's-Lane, so c idled, as is hcicaltcr described. Now 

this agreement witnesseth : 

First. The said parties of the first part, for themselves, their 

executors and administrators) do hereby covenant and agree with 
the parties of the second part) their executors, administrators 
and aasignS) that they will apply to the l i lature of this Com- 
monwealth) and use their utmost endeavours to obtain an ad of 
in' orporatSoD) for the purpose of enabling them to build a bridge) 
fr nn the Town's Landing in Orange Stn outh 

thereof, U> Dorchester Point, and another act for annexing the- 
said point to the town of Boston ; and that when said II ta shall 
be Obtained) they will) with all reasonable dispatch, commence 
the building of said bridge) and complete the same. 

idly. The- parties of the second part, for themselves) 

their executors and administrator*, tlo hereby covenant with the 
£ 



3 



parties of the first part, their executors, administrators and as- 
signs, that they will unite in their sincere and constant endeav- 
ours to enable the party of the first part to obtain the said two 
nets of the Legislature, until the same shall be obtained : And 
that whenever the act authorizing the erection of sakl bridge 
shall have passed, and the proprietors thereof shall begin to 
build said bridge, they will forthwith lay out and make, at their 
own expense, a certain street, or public highway, which shall 
run from Rainsford's Lane, so called, until it comes to said 
bridge ; the eastern line of said street to be at such a distance 
from the south western corner of Deacon Brown's house in Or- 
ange Street, that no part of said eastern line shall be nearer than 
350 feet from the eastern line of Orange Street ; said road to be 
at least 50 feet wide in all its parts, and a good and sufficient stone 
fating next the sea ; and that the same shall be completed, on or 
before the first day of November, A. D. 1805. 

And to the true performance of their respective covenants the 
parties hereby bind themselves to each other in the penalty o£ 
fifty thousand dollars. In testimony whereof the parties have 
hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year before written* 



No. 3. 

Report of joint committee of both Houses on the Compromise. 

THE committee of both houses appointed to take into consid- 
eration the petition of Edward Tuckerman and others, praying 
that they may be incorporated for the purpose of making a ne\v 
street from the Town's landing in or near Orange Street, to Essex 
Street in the town of Boston, and also of erecting, a bridge from 
said landing to Nook Hill in the town of Dorchester, paying 
however toll to a certain description of vessels ; provided how- 
ei'cr, that 710 leave be given for the erection of a bridge to the north-- 
ward of said landings beg leave to report, that the several parties, 
viz. the petitioners, the petitioners for a bridge from South 
Street, and the proprietors of Roxbury canal, have effected a 
com/n-omise, which your committee ask leave to make the basis of 
their report, viz. 

1 st, That the petitioners make a new street, as they have pray- 
ed for in their petition. 

2d, That no leave be given to build a bridge to the northward of 
*aid town's landing. 

3d, That a bridge be built at the place they have prayed foi> 
subject to the payment of a. reasonable toll, to certain loaded ves- 
sels passing the draw of said bridge. 



4fh, Thnt tlit ri;.;ht to build said bridge) with all the con 
conn /;, be transferred from the petitioners, to the 

petitioners For a bridge from South Street in Boston to Nook Hill 
in Dorchester. 

Which is submitted, Hl'./A HOWARD, per order. 
In Senate, Feb. 33d, iso-i, Read and Accepted. 

1) \YI1) COBB, President. 
In.House of Representatives, Feb. 33d, 1 
Read and <- oncurred. 

II. G. OTIS, Speaker. 



No. 4. 

South J-.tid Petition to build Front Street, and ' ' Bridge. 

To the Hot. Senate and //oust- of Repreeentat 

monweahh of Ma**ach\ General Court assembled. 

The subscribers humbly shew, that they, with their associat 
arc desirous of being incorporated into a body politic, for the pur- 
pose of erecting a Bridge from, at or near the town's lam 
place in Orange Street, in the town of Boston, to Don h< 
Point — and also for the purpose of making a new Street from 
Essex Street through Rainsford's lane, so called ; running par- 
allel with the main street in Boston, to the place on the Boston 

tide, where they propose t<> erect the said Bridge, and to con! 

the said street in a proper direction to the town's land on B< 
neck ; — -said street to be at least fifty feet wide. 

By the attainment of this object, a new avenue will be opened 
to the town of Boston, across the narrowest part of the waters 
ng between the town and Dorchester Point, from the south- 
eastern part of the Commonwealth, The petitioners would fur- 
ther state, that they are satisfied that this project Would occasion 

Impediment and obstruction to the navigation which may ; 

the bridge proposed to lie built ; the)' are therefore v. i 
thai a condition, on \\ hich they nr.iv be in< orporated, shall be, that 
they pay to the masters of all loaded vessels passing Up 1 

c, and of more than twenty tons burthen, ten cents per ton, 
hs a premium to induce them to pass said bridge. Your peti- 
tion. . . \c that the object of their petition cnihraces many 

public advantages. The south harbour of H '■••ton wilt Ac made more 

COmmodi tvlgatlon and commerce, audits fire-sent . 

s will be preserved from thr destruction with which they are 

threatened, by the erection of another Bridge Jr 
. — A large part of the Huts situated at the south part of the 
l will be covered, and the number of lots proper foi 

v 



I 



This petition of your petitioners is founded upon ftiz presump- 
tion that no liberty will be granted for the erection of any other 
bridge, from Boston to Dorchester peninsula, to the northward of the 
place where they propose to erect the said bridge, unless at some 
future period the increased settlement of this part of the country 
should be such, that the public exigences should require the same, 
in which case your petitioners will be as ready as any class of 
their fellow citizens to submit to any sacrifices for the public 
interest. 

And we further pray, that your Honours will grant us and our 
associates, such a toll as will reimburse us for the expense of build- 
ing said Bridge, as to your Honours shall appear just and reason- 
able. 



No. 5. 

Calculation of the Cost of Front Street ; the Loss incurred 
and to be incurred by the Proprietors, ifc. 

Certain sales made by Mr. Ellis are brought forward in the Pam- 
phlet as data to show the gain of Front Street Corporation. It 
will now be demonstrated from the same data, that the Corpora- 

■ tion have made and must make]great sacrifces. 

It ought not to be denied, that Mr. Ellis obtained a good price. 
The purchasers' object was to have a wharf whereon they could 
continue the business in which they had long been engaged. This 
purchase was made soon after the compromise, under a convic- 
tion that the water communication Avould be forever secured to 
them ; this appears from their giving $5000 for a piece of flats 
on the east side of the street, bounding 100 feet upon the street ; 
the flats on that side, are of little value for house lots. 

The three pieces sold by Mr. D. Ellis, on the west side of the 
street measure 100 feet on Front Street, and 76 deep, including the 
10 feet left open by agreement, and contain 7287 square feet 
which were sold for §4850 being 66 1-2 cents per square 
foot. These three pieces, when sold by Mr. Ellis, were in one lot 
(though conveyed in three parcels to accommodate the pur- 
chaser.) And the most eligibly situated of any one upon Front 
Street, and worth nearly double to many in other parts of the 
street, because it is within a few rods of the territorial centre of 
the town, pleasantly fronting on two streets, viz. east on Front 
Street, south on Harvard Street. Notwithstanding these advan- 
tages, and that the payments were accommodated to the 
wishes of the purchaser, he having eight years to complete them 
in, let the price of Mr. Ellis's estate (bought by Rice and Bridge) . 



be the standard by which to prove our statement. In this manner 
it will be evinced that the I I m will suffer a 

sacrifice of S73962 50 (the coat ■ •! the street) and an addit* I 
, 40) all which is considered as so much coatri« 
buted to the public and those interested in the South Boston 

the i » 'tn nit ri ial privilege! of tin 
South Harbour Iron tion by another br; 

First] to shew the < ost of the street 

K)50 feet) breadtb SO feet, height averag- 
ing \'- feet. The nents already laid, 
amounting t, is 70912 so 
Anotl.- menl will be required) for fencing and 
finishing the Street, of at least one dollar per loot is 3050 



Cost of Street 73962 50 

which is 48 rents for each superficial square foot. 

liy making the street there have been cut off and 
shut within it, and thereby rendered useless, 130491 
feet of wharf (exclusive of abutment) valued at 40 
cents per square foot, is 52196 40 

Add to this 3050 feet of abutment, averaging at least 
60 feet in depth, which was little used but as wharves, 
say half the value thereof, 20 cents per foot on 
183,000 square feet, is 36600 — 

Front Street is built so far into the sea, as to leave 
the western side Hats, if) be raised, at least as high as 
the street, which will cost, taking the cost of the 
Btre< t for a standard, 48 cents per square loot. Now 
take the width, the same as sold by Mr. Ellis, 76 
I which multiplied by the length 3050 feet is 

231800 square feet to be filled up, at 48 cents per 
foot, is 111*64 — 



,4022 90 
This amount must be expended before the house 
lots will be fit for sal--. Now give credit fbt these 
houselota (all ofwhii h < so pting I will be much infe- 
rior to that sold by Mr. Ellis for reasons before stated) 
at the same price Mr- Ellis sold for. The measure 
being 3050 feet in length and 76 feet iw width, 1^ 
231,800 square feet at 66 1--! cents, is 154147 



i . tin- Corporation, Si 19875 90 

The cunning and deceptive call ulator, in the pamphlet, omit- 
ted to add to the value of Mr. Ellis' estate, any thing for the gen- 
eral rise. And between twenty two and twenty three thousand 



t 



dollars which he has expended upon the premises since his 
purchase. 

To demonstrate this rise, the following is submitted. 

Mr. Ellis in 1794 and 1796 purchased his estate, then contain- 
ing 22960 square feet of land for $6383 33^ which is equal to 
27 cents and 8 mills per foot. Mr. Knapp in 1800 (4 years be- 
fore Front Street was thought of) bought a port of the same 
land with no building of any kind on it, and on which Mr. Ellis 
from the time of his purchase to the time of the sg,le to Mr. 
Knapp, had not expended a single cent in improvement. Mr. 
Knapp paid for this piece which measures 5115 square feet 
$2000 cash, which is equal to 39 cents and one mill per foot. 
Accordingly between the time of Mr. Ellis' purchase and the 
time of the sale to Mr. Knapp, his land had risen in value more 
than 40 per cent. 

To exhibit further evidence of the cost of filling up the flats 
and to show that the writer of the pamphlet meant wilfully to de- 
ceive in the estimate which he gave the public, the following is 
subjoined, being the cost per square, (of 216 cubic feet,) paid by 
the proprietors of South Boston bridge for filling up the abut- 
ment adjoining the bridge on the Boston side. 

The first contract for mud, brought in scows, was $3 25 per 
square. Another contract for gravel, brought in carts, was 
at the rate of $4 per square. The last contract for gravel carted, 
was as high as 4s. per cart load, or more than §5 dollars per 
square. And yet in the pretended calculation, in the pamphlet, 
of the cost of Front Street, the writer allows but §2 per square. 



No. 6. 

Calculations of the Cost of fireaent Bridge, and of the amount vested 
therein by those interesed in the South Boston Speculation. 

The whole amount of expenditures by the Trea- 
surer's accounts, was between §56,000 and 57,000, 
say £5 6,000 

But the money received back by the proprietors, 
arising from sales of materials not used, and $5,288 
62 cents paid back from the town, being half the 
amount of filling up the town's land, as per agreement, 
together amounted to more than §7,000, say 7,000 



Cost of bridge to proprietors $49,000 



which divided by J 48, the number of si nrvs. <ivcs about 

costof each share, 39 of which are owned by gentlemen doc in 
my degree interested in the South Hoston land, which at g338 
[>er share, gives | 

20 of the 89 shares belong to members of the Front Street 
Corporation) and other gentlemen of the south end; 10 loan* 
rtheT) most of whose connexions* and family , are at that part of 
he town. The remaining 9 belong to a gentleman of 
Roxbury. Deduct therefore 813,183 from 049,000, the cost 
l>f the bridge, leaves S55,818, or say 036)000 disbursed for 
present bridge by those proprietors who may be in favour of an* 
other ; making a difTerence of 030,000 between the amount as- 
icrted to have been disbursed by them and the real sum Pot 
is hat il aflecial fntrfloae*" the misrepresentation and exaggeration 

Here made will be readily seen. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



014 077 956 8 



